Valve shield



Jan, 15 1924. 1480,852

T. R. BURKE VALVE SHIELD Filed Sent. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Qw, may, 6

Jan. 15 1924.

T. R. BURKE VALVE SH I BLD Filed Sent. 9

1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALVE SHIELD.

Application fled September 9, 1922. Serial No. 587,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. BURKE,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Washington, in the District of Colum ia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Shields, of Which the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved flushing valve equipment. The flushing I valves of the direct type, or in other words, these which are connected directly with the water supply main and are employed in connection with various plumbing installations, are usually made of nickel plated or polished brass or bronze and are, therefore, subject to corrosion which renders them both unsightly and insanitary. Furthermore, such valves are difficult to cleanse and keep in a cleansed condition due to the readiness with which they corrode, and their general appearance is usually not in keeping with the other plumbing fixtures. These fixtures are ordinarily furnished in white water-impervious materials which are 2 not readily subject to soiling and which are adapted to be readily cleansed, and it is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invent-ion to provide, as an equipment of a valve of the general type abovementioned, an encasing shield or shell which will completely enclose the valve, its inlet and outlet connections, and more or less of its otherwise exposed controlling parts and which ma be finished with a surface in harmon with the surface finish of the plumbing fixtures in conjunction with which the flushing valve is employed. In this manner not only are the va ve fittings of a plumbing fixture made to harmonize with the finish of the fixture, but also the said valve fittings maybe readily kept in a clean and sanitary condition with no more labor than that involved in cleaning the fixtures themselves;

Another important object of the invention is to provide an encasing shield for the valve fittings which will comprise sections so formed and constructed as to adapt them to be readily and conveniently assembled about the flushing valve, its inlet and outlet connections, and more or less of its controlling parts, and firmly secured in place and yet in such a manner and by such means to permit of the removal or displacement of the sections whenever it is necessary to gain access to the valve and its fittin s.

Knother object of the invention is to provide an encasing shield constructed on such principles that the invention may find embodiment in shields adapted for installation upon flushing valves of various shapes and dimensions and installed in various ways, the invention being particularly concerned, however, with flushing valves of the direct type but regardless of direction of extent of the inlet and outlet connections or the character or arrangement of the controllin handle or other parts.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the encasing shield embodying the invention installed in connection with a flushing valve of the direct type and its associated plumbing fixture;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through the shield installed, the valve and its fittings being shown in elevation:

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and with the inlet connection of the valve omitted;

Fig. 5 is a group perspective view illustrating the component parts or sections of the shield disassembled.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in general the plumbing fixture which is to be flushed with water supplied through the medium of the flushing valve which is indicated in general by the numeral 2 and which valve is, as previously stated, of the direct type. The numeral 3 indicates the wall in juxta-position to which the fixture 1 is installed and through which connection is made between the valve and the water supply ipe (not shown). The valve 2 comrlses t e usual casing 4 having the usual inlet coupling 5 which embodies the coupling proper indicated by the numeral 6, the short pipe section 7 which is fitted to the valve casing and to which the coupling is connected, and the usual collar 8 which is disposed about the usual branch pipe leading from the coupling to the water supply pipe, this collar seating directly against the surface of the wall 3. In the drawings the be provided upon either of said sections and at any proper point of location depending upon the type of valve.

The thimble 18 preferably comprises two counterpart sections which are indicated by the numeral 37, and each of which is formed to fit substantially half way about the lower portion of the coupling 9, including the collar 11, the lower portion of each section 37 being preferably bulged as at 38, for this purpose. The sections 37 are adapted to be secured together by providing ears 39 at their rear sides through which a, clamping bolt 40, of the same type as the bolt 32, is secured, as shown in Fi 3. The upper portions of the sections 3 are of semi-cylindrical form so that when the sections are fitted together a tubular shell will be provided surrounding the nipple of the coupling 9, and this tubular shell is received at its upper portion within the lower portion of the shell provided by the meetin body sections and 16, the lower ends 0 these sections being preferably chamfered, as indicated at 41, so as to provide a smooth union between the parts and to give the impression of an integral or one-piece structure, so far as is possible.

The ca section 17 comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion 42 provided with a dome-like bulge 43 at its forward end having a depending approximately circular flange 44 which is designed to extend about the lower portion of the cap 12 of the valve casing, the bulge 43 being desgined to seat over the upper side of the said cap and over the nut 13. The said bulge 43 is provided centrally in its top with an opening 45 through which a securing screw 46 is fitted, the said screw being threaded into the upper side of the nut 13. The flange 44 extends about the margin of the outstanding flanges 23 of the sections 15 and 16 and conceals these edges from view. If desired the flange 44 may be provided at its forward side with a socket 17 receiving a buffer block 48 which will take the place of the ordinary seat buffer employed upon the valve. The cap section 17 is designed to be fitted over the upper side of the valve and its coupling 5, and at its lower margin it is preferably provided with an outwardly offset dependin flange 49 which fits over the upper edges 0 the extensions 24 of the sections 15 and 16 as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. \Vhilc the cap sections 17 is of a more or less semi-cylindrical form it will, of course, be made of a contour to conform more or less closely to the valve casing and its fitting. For example. if the cut off valve 25 embodies an upstanding or projecting part, the section 17 may be provided with a correspondingly located bulge 50 to accommodate said parts. It will now be evident that when the body sections 15 and 16 are assembled about the valve and its fittings the lower ends of the said sections will encompass the tubular portion 37 of the thimble 18, and the cap section 17 will [it down over the upper portions of the said sections 15 and 16 and their extensions 24 thus holding those parts against separation. The securing screw 16 will, of course. hold the cap section 17 firmly and securely in place upon the valve and therefore all of the parts comprising the assemblage will be securely held against displacement.

In practice the sections comprising the thimble 18 will be made in various lengths or. in other words. with their tubular shell portions 37 of various lengths so as to adapt the shield as a whole to be applied to valves in which the length of the outlet coupling 9 may vary considerably.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be evident that the several sections of the shield as well as the thimb-le 18, may be made of enameled material or material finished or surfaced in any other manner desired and in conformity with the finish of the plumbing fixture in connection with the flushing valve of which the shield is employed. Also the thimble 18 serves not only as a means for preventing separation of the lower ends of the sections 15 and 16 but it constitutes likewise a means for concealing the lower ends of the said sections and imparts a more finished appearance to the lower portion of the shield.

It will probably be found desirable to provide the sections 15, 16 and 17 with a lining 52' of felt or some similar cushioning and heat insulating material. This lining will partially eliminate or to a great extent. muffle the sound which is created when the valve is in operation and will likewise serve to prevent direct contact between the metallic parts comprising the valve and the shield which would probably occasion a rattling noise in the event of any slight looseness between the sections of the shield; and. because of its heat insulating property .it will prevent the formation of moisture of condensation on the exterior surfaces of the valve parts which would otherwise be liable to occur through the difference in temperature of the water flowing through the valve and the room temperature and result in corrosion of the metallic parts.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new is:

1. A valve shield for installation upon a flushing valve having an outlet coupling. comprising sections to be fitted about the said coupling in matched relation. and a cap section to be fitted to the valve casing and formed to engage the first-mentioned sections in a manner to maintain the same assembled.

2. A valve shield for installation upon a lflll flushing valve having an outlet coupling comprising sections to be fitted about the said coupling in matched relation, and a cap section to he fitted to the valve casing and having a portion to encompass the mating first-mentioned sections in a manner to maintain the same assembled.

3. A valve shield for installation upon a flushing valve having an outlet coupling comprisinc sections to be fitted about the said couplingin matched relation, a cap section to be fitted to the valve casing and havinp a portion to encompass the mating firstmentioned sections in a manner to maintain the so. in, tltSQlll bied, and means assoclaterl with the cap section for coaction with part of the valve to maintain the said cap section in flied relation to the valve.

4. A valve shield for installation upon a flushing valve having an inlet and an outlet coupling connected with its casing, comprising sections to be fitted about one of said coupl ngs and the valve casing in matched relation, said sections having extensions, and a cap section to be fitted to the valve casing and engage the first-mentioned sections in a manner to maintain the same assembled. the said cap section having an extension t'or coaction with the first-mentioned extensions to enclose the said inlet coupling.

5. A valve shield for installation upon a flushing valve having; an inlet and an outlet coupling connected with its casing, comprising sections to be fitted about one of said couplings and the valve casing in matched relation, said sections having extensions, a cap section to be fitted to the valve casing and engage the first-mentioned sections in a. manner to maintain the same assembled. the said cap section having an extension for coaction with the first-mentioned extensions to enclose the said iniet coupling, and means for maintaining: the cap section fixed with relation to the valve casing and thereby maintain the other said sections likewise in assembled relation.

6. A valve shield. for installation upon a flushing valve having an inlet coupling and an outlet coupling, comprising sections to be titt d about the cas ng of the valve and the out et coupling in matched relation, said sections having: extensions to tit about the under side of tlic inlet coupling. and a cap section or as mblage with the first-mentioned sect ons and having an extension for action with the t rst-nicntipned extensions, he said cap section being designed to fit the alve cosine and its extension to fit the inlet coupling, the said cap section having a flange extending about the upper margins of the first-mentioned sections whereby to main tain the said first-mentioned sections in assembled relation.

7. A valve shield for installation upon a flushing valve having an inlet coupling and an outlet coupling comprising sections to l'ie'fitted abontthe casing of the valve and the outlet. coupling in matched relation, said sections having extensions to fit about the under side of the inlet coupling, a cap section for assemblage with the first-mentioned sections and having an extension for co- :iotion with the first-mentioned extensions, the said cap section being designed to fit the valve casing and its extension to fit the inlet coupling, the said cap section having 1: flange extending about the upper margins of the first-mentioned sections whereby to maintain the said firstmontioned sections in assembled relation, and a securing elemenl associated with the cap section for 00- aclion with a part of the valve for maintaining the cap section fixed with relation to the valve casing.

8. The combination with a plumbing fixture and a flushing valve having an outlet coupling secured to the fixture, of a shield for the valve and its coupling comprising sections assembled about a portion of the casing of the valve and about the said coupling: in matched relation and enclosing said parts, a thiinble telescopically fitting the lower ends of the sections, and a cap section titted to the other portion of the valve casinn and enclosing the same and so engaging the upper ends of the first-mentioned sections as to maintain them in assembled relation.

9. The combination with a plumbing fixture and a flushing; valve having an outlet coupling secured to the fixture, of a shield tor the valve and its coupling comprising sections assembled about a portion of the of the valve and about the said coupling in matched relation and enclosing said parts, a thimble telescopically fitting the hover ends of the sections, a cap section fitted to the other portion of the said casing and enclosing the same and provided with a part encompassing the upper ends of the assembled first-mentioned sections and maintaining them in assembled relation, and a SQCllIlHgI element associated with the cap section for coaction with a fixed part; of the valve whereby to maintain the cap section fixed with :Fllblfill to the valve casing',

I0. A valve shield comprising sections to be fitted together in matched relation about certain portions of the valve to be encased and a third section for encasing the remaining portion of the valve and having means for coaction with the first-mentioned sections to maintain all of said sections in assemb lcd relation.

11. A shield for valves comprising sections to be assembled about the valve to en close the same, and a lining of a yieldable heat insulating material Within said sections.

till

12. A valve shield for installation upon a flushing valve having an inlet and an outlet coupling connected with its casing, comprising sections to be fitted about one of said couplings and the valve casing in matched relation, said sections having extensions to fit the under side of one of said couplings, the said sections having ears at their meeting edges, a securing element fastened through said ears, and a cap section fitted to the valve casing and to the upper side of the last-mentioned coupling, the said cap section engaging the first-mentioned sections in a manner to maintain the same assembled.

13. A valve shield for installation upon a flushing valve having an inlet and an outlet couphng connected with its casing, comprising sections to be fitted about one of said couplings and the valve casing in matched relation, said sections having extensions to fit the under side of one of said couplings, the said sections having ears at their meeting edges, a securing element fastened through said ears, and a ca section fitted to the valve casing and to tie upper side of the last-mentioned coupling, the said cap section engaging the first-mentioned sections in a manner to maintain the same assembled, and means for maintaining the cap section fixed with relation to the valve casin to thereby maintain the other said sections likewise in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS R. BURKE. [14. s.] 

